EPL: Merson warned not to replace Arsene Wenger with Benitez

Former Arsenal midfielder, Paul Merson has warned the club not to replace manager, Arsene Wenger with his Newcastle counterpart, Rafa Benitez.

Benitez masterminded a 2-1 win over the Gunners on Sunday, to all but confirm their Premier League status for next season.

By contrast Arsenal’s latest defeat on the road, which leaves them a distant sixth in the table, has led to calls from supporters for Wenger to depart in the summer and to replace him with Benitez.

Merson, however, believes the Spaniard would be the wrong choice.

“I like Benitez – he is one of the top managers.

“I just think Arsenal [fans] want to see entertaining football, and I know this might sound a bit silly, but they want to see teams who go out to win football matches.

“Benitez sort of sets his teams up – even at Liverpool – not to get beaten, and you go from there.

“Arsenal fans are staying away at the moment because it’s not entertaining enough, and I think they will need someone with a little bit more flair.

“They need someone with longevity – someone who will get a four or five-year contract and stay there – because you don’t want a Manchester United situation, where they change the manager many times quickly after Sir Alex Ferguson,” Merson told talkSPORT.

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